The mobile phone is no longer just a telephone. The demands on the mini-computer in your pocket are getting higher and higher. It can quickly happen that you have to look for a new smartphone. But what should you look out for when choosing a mobile phone?

Which cell phone should you buy?

The smartphone market is now extremely confusing. After more and more manufacturers, especially from Asia, have entered the mobile phone market in recent years, the choice is almost a torment. The mobile phone is no longer just a portable phone, but a small computer that fits comfortably in your pocket. As a result, the demand on smartphones has continued to grow over the years. It should be fast, light, large enough and powerful. If you search for a new mobile phone on the Internet, you will be inundated with a wealth of technical terms that you usually don't know much about. That's why we're going to look at the most important aspects of a smartphone here to help you make your purchase decision. We won't present any specific models here or give any purchase recommendations.

Which operating system is right for you?

The two most common operating systems are Android and iOS. Since iOS is only used for Apple devices, Android is the most common operating system, as Android is pre-installed on almost all other mobile phones. In terms of usability, the two systems hardly differ. It is mostly a matter of habit or taste. However, the iOS system is generally considered to be easier and more intuitive to use. The biggest differences are the shops where you can get the apps. For Android, this is the Google Playstore and for iOS, the Appstore. In the Playstore, there are more free or ad-supported apps, as the rules for app settings are a little more relaxed than in the Apple Appstore. The apps submitted here undergo a much stricter quality check. However, this also means that the apps in the Appstore are usually more expensive.

Important: Once you have chosen an operating system, you should stick with it in the future, because the apps purchased in the respective store cannot be transferred to another operating system. In addition, the transfer of the "old" data from one operating system to the other is only possible with really in-depth know-how and is sometimes simply not possible.

Attention: Some smartphone manufacturers are on the US blacklist and therefore do not have access to the Google Playstore.

How big does a cell phone have to be?

It used to be important for a cell phone to be as small as possible. However, this trend quickly reversed with the advent of smartphones. The bigger, the better became the motto. But again, size is a matter of taste. If the smartphone no longer fits in your pocket, it becomes a bit critical. In general, however, it can be said that a display should be at least 4.5 inches. 6.4 - 6.8 inches has become the standard display size. If the display is significantly larger, it can be difficult to use the phone with one hand. With a smaller display, text is difficult to read. The best thing to do is go to a specialist shop and simply pick up smartphones of different sizes to find the size that feels comfortable to you.

What should you pay attention to when it comes to the display?

Depending on what you want to use the smartphone for, you should look for a suitable resolution. If the resolution is lower, reading emails or websites will be a little difficult. The higher the resolution, the clearer the image. For relaxed reading, the display should have a resolution of at least 1,280 x 720 pixels and a pixel density of not much less than 300ppi (dots per inch). However, if you mainly use the smartphone for watching videos, you should choose a higher resolution and pixel density.

Another important point is the brightness and contrast of the display. LCD displays are usually brighter, but OLEDs display colors more vividly. An anti-reflective display is also an advantage, especially in sunshine.

How much storage space do you need?

The size of the internal memory is the most important criterion here. Apps are getting bigger and bigger and therefore taking up more and more storage space. Many apps cannot be saved on external storage, i.e. an additional MicroSD card. Updates can cause the size of apps to continue to grow. It is therefore advisable not to be stingy here. We therefore recommend a minimum size of 32 GB, but this can quickly become a bit tight depending on how many apps you want to use. Modern smartphones usually have 64 GB. But as I said, the bigger the better. Many smartphones can also have an external SD card inserted. However, you should pay attention to the size of the smartphone. Some models do not accept MicroSD cards larger than 64 GB, others do not care about the size. You should use the external cards primarily for saving pictures or videos.

Please note that not all mobile phones have an SD slot for an external memory card. Apple devices usually have a larger internal memory, as it is not possible to use additional "external" memory. What is also possible is to back up data in the cloud (Google, Samsung, Apple), which also saves you the hassle of having to do backups.

Now it gets technical: Which processor and RAM is good?

The RAM is the working memory of the smartphone. The size of the RAM determines how much data can be temporarily stored so that it can be accessed more quickly. The size also determines how many apps can run in the background and how quickly they can start. However, it is difficult to make a blanket statement about how large the RAM should be. iOS smartphones usually have a smaller RAM, but this is balanced out by the interaction with the rest of the technology in the phone. 3GB to 4GB of working memory is standard for Android phones. In the higher price range, 8GB or even 12GB can also be found.

The processor or CPU is the heart of the smartphone. The CPU is there to distribute and manage the tasks and exchange of data between the individual components. Its tasks are therefore to run installed apps, control the graphic display by controlling the GPU (graphics processor), establish reception (Wi-Fi and network) and process user data. The benchmark for the performance of a processor is the gigahertz value. This is the clock frequency at which tasks are processed. So as always: the higher, the faster. CPUs also differ in the number of cores and core types. A quad-core (4-core) processor is now standard on Android phones. If you want to play power-hungry 3D titles, you should also pay attention to the graphics unit, the GPU.

But here too, apparently “slow” processors can achieve very good results through interaction with the rest of the technology. One example is once again Apple.

We recommend that you read the performance reports of the individual smartphones and compare them with each other. Many comparison portals also have user reviews. Does it stutter when playing games or watching videos? Then the processor may be too weak.

What is important about the camera in your smartphone?

For many people, the camera is the deciding factor in their purchase. Whether it's snapshots from their vacation or Instagram-worthy photos of lunch, the cell phone is the documentation medium for many people. So what is important in a camera? First and foremost, the resolution. It should be at least 8 megapixels, and as always, the more the better. Additional functions such as autofocus and an image stabilizer (OIS) are a must. A low aperture is also important. This means that pictures can also be taken in darker environments. The guideline here would be f/1.8 or less. Newer smartphones now have several lenses, such as a wide-angle lens for taking panoramas or a macro lens for taking sharp pictures of very close objects. Many comparison portals also list the image results of individual smartphones.

What should you pay attention to when it comes to the battery in your smartphone?

All the performance and technical finesse is useless if the smartphone can only be used for a short time and immediately begs for power again. The large number of apps that we now use on our smartphones puts an immense strain on the battery. It can happen that you have to connect the device to the power supply again after just half a day. Many people used to get by by taking a removable battery with them. This is hardly possible with newer smartphones. The batteries are now permanently installed and can only be replaced by a specialist. This makes it all the more important to pay attention to the longevity and performance of the battery. The battery capacity is given in mAh (milliamperes/hour). A value of at least 3000mAh is recommended. What is even more important, however, is the running time under load, i.e. in full operation, and in standby. Some smartphones can now also charge wirelessly by placing them on Qi (Chinese for life energy) charging stations. However, a lot of power is lost here, which means it is not particularly environmentally friendly.

Conclusion mobile phone purchase:

We have said time and again: the higher or bigger, the better. However, that is not always what you actually need. Think in advance about what you really want to use your new smartphone for. For a simple "work phone", many factors are superfluous, such as an oversized camera or a high-end processor. However, the most important points are the same for everyone. The memory should be large enough, the display not too small and the battery should last long enough. Take your time and look around on the various comparison portals. Sometimes you can find better prices there.